REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH FORMULA E (en) / Agata Julia Prosińska

The subject of today’s post can surprise many of You. A year ago it would surprise me for sure, but the world works that way: we never can foresee what future holds for us. So yeah, this post will be dedicated to reasons why You should consider watching Formula E. Although we are in the middle of fourth season of this racing series, I think there is nothing against about starting watching it though.

For the beginning, before I will go to reasons – some history.

Formula E – official name ABB FIA Formula E Championship – is a first in the world class of auto racing that uses only electric-powered cars. The series was conceived in 2011 by Jean Todt, current FIA president and the inaugural championship was held in Pekin on 13 September 2014.

Formula E aims to show the world the future of motor industry and that is the electric cars are actually the future of that industry.

However, cutting all the unnecessary blahs – here are my reason why (and the soonest on 14th April ) why You should watch Formula E.

TEAMS AND MANUFACTURERS

Formula E is for sure a field for development and display for world famous manufacturers. Hybrid cars and full electric cars appears more and more often, so manufacturers being interested in electric racing series makes perfect sense, right?

And FE has a lot to offer. Manufacturers that are participating in FE season fourth are: Jaguar, Mahindra, DS Virgin or 3 team champions Renault e.Dams. We have also Audi (2016/2017 world champion Lucas di Grassi is racing for them). But it’s also worth mentioning that in 2019/2020 season Mercedes and Porsche will also join the rivalry, and BMW, expect from cooperating with Andretti team and providing the official FE car and the safety one, will be a participating team since season 2018/2019.

DRIVERS

It’s hard to hide, but in the respectable company of Formula E drivers, we can find the most talented and titled ones. Actually each one of them have a past in the most prestigious racing series like F1, WEC, Super Formula or Formula 2.

Pekin 2014. First ePrix ever in the history of Formula E.*

I mean, let’s just look at this season! We have a current championship leader, Jean-Éric Vergne (in 2012-2014 Toro Rosso driver and Ferrari test driver in 2016). There is also Sam Bird, test and reserve Mercedes driver in 2011-2012, Nelson Piquet Jr (FEWorld Champion 2014/2015), Mahindra drivers – Nick Heidfeld and Felix Rosenqvist, a FE rookie, Andre Lotterer (three time winner of LeMans 24, Formula Nippon 2011 champion and WEC champion from 2012), Antonio Felix da Costa or Alex Lynn (GP3 2014 winner as same as winner of 12 Hours of Sebring 2017). I need to also mention the ladies that participated in previous seasons: Simona de Silvestro, Katherine Legge and Michela Cerruti.

Of course I cannot forget other FE world champions – Sebastien Buemi and Lucas di Grassi. Nevertheless, I encourage You to look up to drivers’ history yourself, becuase writing about each one of them would make already a one long post!

What is actually interesting, since the beginning of this series, different driver was a world champion!

As we can see, FE drivers are really serious.

ON-TRACK ACTION

I think very first Formula E race showed that this series are unique when we consider on-track action.

Just then, in Pekin, when Nick Heidfeld fought for position with Nico Prost on last coners, sudden contact of two cars, well ended, hym, in really mind blowing crash (just for now – don’t worry fortunately Nick was okay!)

However each races guarantees for You memorable on track actions, and that kind of ones, even being a big fan of F1 I am, I can guarantee You won’t see in F1.

RULES AND LAYOUT

Many people not knowing FE compares it to F1, but when it comes to FE we can’t even say about race weekend, because two training session, qualifying and race itself (if this is not the double race) takes place IN ONE DAY.

Drivers are split into 4 groups at qulafying and the ones with the fastsest times go through Superpole – in other way the session in which we get to know the winner of pole position. Points are the same as in F1 for position, but now, diffrent form previous seasons, the one point for best lap won’t be given to the driver if he didn’t finish in first ten.

The car swap, the one I have mentioned before. FE races have to last min. an hour + one lap and have at least 37 laps.

And also – although it’s kinda hard for me – it will be the last season when we will see the car swap in the middle of the race, because the new battery of Gen2 cars will let cars last full race. I want to mention fanboost too, which lets voting for your fav driver. During race, three drivers with most votes have access to more power to, for example, overtake the opponent.

TRACKS

The unquestionable perks of full electric cars are that they are able to race almost everywhere. Looking back at the races calendar and even approaching us, we can see there was ePrixes in Paris, Hong Kong, Berlin, Punta del Este, London, Buenos Aires, Miami, Montreal, Marrakesh, Pekin, Moscow, Putrayaya or even New York. Nice, duh? We can’t also forget about the race on iconic street of Monaco. In this season we can also expect for the first time ever Rome Eprix and Eprix Zurich (which is actually the first held race there since 60 years in Switzerland).

TECHNOLOGIES

As actually all forms of motorsport, Formula E aims for technology progress and its constant evolution.

If we look back at short, but still history, FE since its beginnings, we will get struck how much progress has been made for last 5 years. And in upcoming season we will say goodbye to à la F1 car, to welcome Gen2 car, also the one with halo.

Gen2 car.

Although many people complained that maybe (You know, FE cars enmities unique sound) since new season the power output of new generation car will be created on 250kW level, which in a result will enable the teams and drivers to complete a full race at higher speeds, without making a mid-race car swap. At qualifying session car will have 50kW more than current model. The changes in power transmission system and lower chassis will positively affect maximum speed, because the current cars achieve just 225 k/h and with that changes they are sure to achieve 300 km/h. I have no idea what You think about it, but for me it’s FEntastic!

ACCESSIBILITY & SUSTAINABILITY

What makes Formula E even more unique is that it aspires to be the one of most accessible for fans, by bringing them to cities centres and having great online platforms.

Also al races from previous season are available to watch on Youtube ABB Formula E Championship and fans can watch Shakedown or training session live there too.

What actually affect for the whole concept of that sport is to promote of sustainability and ecology. Formula E calls itself a field for a technological and sustainable development test bed for some of the leading companies. The cars don’t produce emission and have 100% renewable fuel, hybrid tyres designed by Michelin, suitable for all weather conditions, last the entire race, are being all recycled at the end of the day. Formula E has their own Environmental Policy and it was being awarded and recognised not once for their fight for environment. So, yeah, FE in some way can be a beginning for technology innovations. Formula E is the future. The future that is now.

So, what do You think? You gonna give a chance to Formula E? I’m now saying goodbye and with FE drivers I wish You